holidays

What if you’re having more people than you have napkins, glasses, or plates? How do you make the table attractive without extra expense and energy? Let’s experiment and have fun setting the table.
Valentine’s Day is around the corner and then in a few months, it will be another holiday or special occasion.
It’s fun to have many folks over. There’s nothing wrong with buffet style and often it makes for a great casual setting. Even then, we still want to make the house feel and look festive!
But we run out of one kind of napkin or one kind of placemat with those sorts of numbers. Most of us buy 6-8 of one kind. There are solutions, and they apply whether you’re having 4-6 or 8-16 guests or more.
Your first temptation is to go out and buy what you need. But then sticker shock overcomes you. Besides, how many times do you have a large number of people? The solution is obvious and one we’re almost forced to do.
It’s rewarding to see it all come together when you MIX & MATCH.

That’s right guys. There are only a few weeks, eventually days – till showtime!

In this synopsis from History.com, EVERYTHING you could, should or would EVER want to know, about Valentine’s Day is discussed. Seriously though, this site is cool with 10 videos and 8 articles plus a photography post on this treasured tradition. It discusses a wide range of subjects from love letters to presidents, conveyer belts of candy to how many cards printed each and every Valentine’s Day.
Cupid commands you to check this out – History.com: Valentine’s Day – Facts
So now we get to the issue of finding the right gift that will say to him or her – I LOVE YOU. Something that will show them the LOVE.
This site should give you ideas, get your juices flowing and help you make a choice, sooner rather than later.
Look at these PERFECT Valentine’s Gifts by Mary Peffer from Today Style

Home is my favorite destination for Christmas.
This year, with all the violence it’s been disconcerting though hasn’t it?
Maybe that’s why our nostalgic Christmas decor has brought me such joy and peace this year. I found some forgotten Christmas treasures in the dark abyss of our attic, things not seen to man in awhile but maybe to other furry foreign creatures! Remember those moving Christmas trees that sang carols and opened their eye real wide? Yup – one of those were in there as well. Don’t the older decorations seem almost soulful, oozing with memories and unique porcelain features?

Let’s have our Christmas wellness-mindfullness-check, you know the kind of check-up you had as a child prior to getting sick, only this time, our concern is getting through the holidays. This time of year can bring up such mixed emotions swirling inside our hearts. So how about you?
Are you in a “holidaze?” Or would you rather talk about hollandaise than the holidays! Are you reliving Christmas seasons from the past or are you holing up somewhere wishing this month would be over already? This time of year seems like the time when we most remember our fragility, our parents and what memories they created for us both excellent and not so much.
Having just experienced helping one of our parents adjust to an assisted living situation and losing the privilege to drive forever, thoughts of our own mortality certainly surround the two of us, as we “holidaze” with you! It’s interesting how life stares you right in the face in your weakest moments and you come out stronger for not having flinched. You can’t buy a “Christmas Gift Card” for problems yet! (You know, like worrying if it’s the last time you’ll get to say, “I love you Mom!” Because while you were busy being busy she got old.)

Simple and rewarding, this is one holiday creation that won’t drive you crazy in the making and rest assured it will be an absolute hit!
Take out a pedestal cake plate with a glass dome cover. Remember the old fashioned snow globes? That is the look and feel you want.
If there are ridges in the glass or if it has beveled glass, it won’t work as well, because it will distract the eye away from the scene within.
Now, head to the nearest craft store and pick up some plain white craft clay and some spray adhesive. While you’re there, grab some white glitter to give the look of fresh fallen snow.
This is one of those let’s “try it once” holiday home decor projects that you will savor every year with the kids and grandkids!

Whether you are on the road traveling to a friend’s house or possibly in a foreign country, December is the time of year when you often need a last minute gift for that special someone. This person is important to you and you want the gift to show it! So you don’t want something ordinary. You want it to speak to them personally. It needs to be a feel-good gift!

Maybe this person watches your cat. Perhaps they are your dog walker and always there willing to help you out in a pinch. Maybe they are the sort that never seems to tire of making you awesome desserts to cheer you up or maybe they are the neighbor who has your back, calls on your birthday or even takes your newspapers in when you forget to call to cancel delivery. They certainly make your life better and you want them to know you care!